Pirelli Extends Canadian Superbike Deal

Pirelli became spec tire supplier to the Canadian tour at the beginning of the 2006 season after taking on a similar role with the World Superbike Championship in 2004. Since then the Italian company has also become spec tire provider to the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series in the United States and the British Superbike Championship.

We are very excited to extend this agreement with the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, says Scott Griffin, vice president of Pirellis motorcycle tire division. This program has exceeded our expectations and the series has played a key role in the development of our tires and our place in the market.

Pirelli currently supplies slick tires for the Parts Canada Superbike feature class, as well as DOT street-approved options for the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike, International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Canadian Thunder and Suzuki SV650 National Cup classes. Starting this season it will also develop tires for the Honda CBR125R Challenge entry-level class.

Pirellis Diablo Rosso DOT tire, which was introduced in 2007, was created through Pirellis work in the Canadian series in 2006. Also, Australian Ducati factory rider Troy Bayliss used a rear slick developed in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship for one of his World Superbike race wins at Brands Hatch, England in August, 2006.

Any bit of information we learn in our work with the Canadian series is always beneficial to us, says Griffin. The Parts Canada Superbike Championship has been very helpful for us and in our eyes it has been a leading series for us.

The 2008 Parts Canada Superbike Championship kicks off its seven-race season at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Calabogie, Ont. May 23 to 25.